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Chelsea FC have admitted a charge relating to the behavior of their players towards referee Andre Marriner during a match against Derby County last month
There are now seven players in the Premiership and Championship who are products of our youth set up. I love to see them do well and I really hope Steve is successful. It reflects well on the Club and the coaching staff and it's a great feeling to see a player do well when you've known him since he was child or teenager.
We can help a young player with his fitness and help him develop his football skills but other influences determine whether he becomes a decent, straightforward and honest person.
He was spotted and helped by our coaches - Glyn Salmon, Warwick Rimmer, John McMahon and by Brian Little and Ronnie Moore. We gave him a second chance.
When he joined us as a 14 year old boy, lacking in confidence having been let go of by Liverpool Football Club, he and his family were extremely critical of his former club. As he has explained in interviews, he was playing for Garston Woodcutters and had given up on his dream of becoming a professional player.
Without explanation he didn't turn up for the final day before the close season; he didn't encourage Derby to negotiate a fair value, as he could have done, and he put forward a submission criticising the Club to help his new employers try to get him on the cheap.
My main issue with the whole episode isn't the fee (the maximum is very good); it isn't with Derby County and it isn't with the Tribunal itself but it's the fact that over 6 years the Club helped Steve to become the player he is today and he didn't say goodbye to staff at the Club, directors or fans and shows no appreciation.
I find it hard to believe that Steve would have said that if he had been present and had to look Les, Ronnie, Mick Horton, Dave Philpotts and me in the eye. But he could say what he wanted in writing and we couldn't challenge him.
Overall the decision wasn't too bad but the process could be much better. For example, the person who could provide the most valuable evidence (ie the player) doesn't have to attend. In this case, Steve submitted a written note. Basically he said that the Club hadn't done much for him and he didn't rate the Club.